Navajos resolve some Head Start problems

The Navajo Nation has corrected many problems related to criminal background checks of its Head Start employees but has yet to resolve issues connected to most of its $27 million federal budget.

The federal government is releasing nearly $4.2 million in Head Start money and allowing the Navajo Nation to open 71 classrooms and 22 home-based programs, likely by Oct. 1.

That's less than half of the program, which has had 177 classrooms and 78 home-based programs, according to the Navajo Nation.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Head Start suspended funding to the preschool program in May after discovering 51 people with criminal histories were employed in the program without having to first undergo a criminal background check.

The Navajo Nation has corrected some problems, mostly by setting policies and training staff. It is implementing criminal background checks — including checks for crimes committed on tribal lands — and reviewing criminal histories. It is also requiring applicants to declare all pending and past arrests and charges related to chid sexual abuse or neglect, and violent felony convictions.

The suspension on the Early Head Start summer program, which receives about $597,000 and serves 60 children, was lifted in May. But the Navajo Nation still must comply with regulations about shared governance with a Policy Council and monitoring to ensure its operations comply with federal rules, according to Channell Wilkins, director of the Office of Head Start under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

"Partial suspension of Head Start funding will remain in effect until we are satisfied . . . all the deficiencies leading to the suspension of funding have been fully corrected, will not occur again, and there is no longer a threat to the health and safety of children and staff," Wilkins said in an Aug. 4 letter to Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley.

"I think we were fair with them and I know they've done a lot of work," Wilkins told the Deseret Morning News on Tuesday. "I think their efforts are strong, and they're committed to making the program better. We're definitely committed to making sure they do."

The money mostly goes toward salaries for 200 to 300 people — under half the total — furloughed when the federal office suspended program funding May 1, Wilkins said. It also will help prepare classrooms, including cleaning and purchasing school supplies.

Lavina Barton, assistant department manager of the Navajo Nation's Office of Early Childhood Development, said the return of staff members is welcome considering the struggle the program has had to meet the federal requirements with only a skeleton crew.